Chapter 87: The Vow

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Vow

Brutus’s POV

I was shaking.

My whole body was trembling. My hands. My arms. My legs. My chest. Everything.

I held my father’s hand. It was cold. So cold. The warmth was fading. The life was fading.

"Father," I whispered. "Father, please."

He didn’t respond.

His eyes were closed. His skin was pale. His breath was shallow. The sword was still in his stomach. Blood was still pooling around him.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.

"Father," I said again. My voice cracked. "Please. Please don’t leave me."

Then his eyes opened.

Slowly. Painfully. Just a crack.

"Brutus," he whispered.

I leaned closer. I could barely hear him. His voice was so soft. So weak.

"I’m here," I said. "I’m here, Father."

He smiled. A small, pained smile. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"I’m sorry," he said.

I blinked. "What?"

"I’m sorry. I should have taught you better."

I shook my head. "No. No, Father. This isn’t your fault. It’s mine. It’s all my fault."

"I should have taught you that strength is not for hurting people. Strength is for protecting them."

I stared at him. Tears streamed down my face.

"I’m sorry," I sobbed. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

"It’s okay."

"No, it’s not okay. I hurt people. I broke bones. I made them bleed. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fear. I enjoyed the power."

"You were angry."

"I was. I was so angry. I hated them. I hated everyone who laughed at me. I hated everyone who called me useless."

"You wanted to feel big."

"Yes." I choked on my words. "Yes. I wanted to feel big. I wanted to feel important. I wanted to feel like I mattered."

"You do matter."

"No, I don’t. I’m nothing. I’m a null. I’m useless."

"You’re not useless. You’re my son."

I cried harder. I couldn’t stop. The tears wouldn’t stop.

"I was all alone," I said. "After everyone laughed at me. After everyone called me trash. I had no one. No friends. No family. Just you."

My father squeezed my hand. His grip was weak. But it was there.

"Your only friend was me," he said. "And I was so proud of you."

"I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I’m sorry I ignored you. I’m sorry I hurt people. I’m sorry I caused this."

"It’s okay."

"It’s not okay. You’re dying because of me."

"I’m dying because I protected my son."

I stared at him. "What?"

"The guards came. They said you attacked a noble. They said you broke their bones. They said they were going to arrest you. They said they were going to execute you."

I listened. My heart was pounding.

"I tried to stop them. I fought them. I told them to leave you alone. I told them I would take the punishment. I told them to kill me instead."

My father smiled. A weak, tired smile.

"They accepted. They stabbed me. They left me here to die."

I shook my head. "No. No. This is my fault. I should have been here. I should have protected you."

"You didn’t know. You were on your hunt."

"I should have been here."

"Brutus."

My father’s voice was fading. His eyes were closing.

"Listen to me. Please. Listen."

I nodded. I held his hand. I leaned close.

"Use your strength to protect people. Not to hurt them. Protect the weak. Protect the innocent. Protect those who can’t protect themselves."

"I will. I promise."

"Be better than me. Be better than who you were."

"I will. I swear. I swear on my life."

My father smiled. A real smile. The last smile I would ever see.

"I love you, Brutus. My son. My strong, brave son."

"I love you too, Father. I love you so much."

His eyes closed.

His breathing stopped.

His hand went limp.

I stared at him. At his face. At his closed eyes. At his peaceful expression.

"Father?" I whispered. "Father?"

He didn’t respond.

"Father!"

I shook him. I held him. I screamed. But he didn’t wake up.

He was gone.

I sat there. Holding his body. Crying. Screaming. Breaking.

My father was dead.

---

I don’t know how long I sat there.

Minutes. Hours. Maybe longer. Time didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore.

My father was dead. My only friend. My only family. My only support.

He was gone.

And it was my fault.

I stood up. Slowly. Painfully. My legs were shaking. My hands were trembling. My heart was shattered.

I walked toward the door. My footsteps were heavy. My breathing was ragged.

I pushed open the door. I stepped outside.

And I saw them.

Hundreds of soldiers. Armed. Armored. Their swords drawn. Their eyes cold.

They were standing in a line. A wall of steel and death. Behind them was a leader. A tall man with a scarred face and a cruel smile.

The leader stepped forward. He looked at me. His eyes were cold.

"Brutus," he said. "You have committed a crime. You attacked a noble. You broke the bones of his guards. You are sentenced to death."

I didn’t respond. I just stood there. My head was down. My eyes were on the ground.

"You will come with us. You will be executed in the town square. Your body will be displayed as a warning to all who would defy the nobility."

I didn’t move.

The leader gestured. Two soldiers stepped forward. They had ropes. They had swords. They had chains.

They walked toward me. Their footsteps were slow. Deliberate. Confident.

I looked at the ground. I could see my father’s blood. It was on my hands. It was on my clothes. It was everywhere.

He was dead. My father was dead. Because of me. Because of my anger. Because of my pride. Because of my stupidity.

I had promised to be better. I had promised to protect people.

But it was too late. My father was gone. And I was alone.

The soldiers reached me. They reached out to grab me. To tie me. To chain me.

I moved.

I raised my palm. Mana gathered around it. It became sharp. Deadly. Like a blade.

I swung.

The first soldier’s head flew off. His body crumpled. His blood sprayed.

The second soldier froze. His eyes were wide. His mouth was open.

I grabbed the head. I threw it. It hit another soldier. His head exploded. He fell.

The soldiers stopped. They stared. They couldn’t believe what they had just seen.

I looked at them. My eyes were red. My face was wet with tears. My hands were covered in blood.

"None of you are leaving here alive," I said.

My voice was calm. Quiet. Deadly.

"I will start with you," I said. "And then I will find that noble bastard. And I will kill him too."

The soldiers stepped back. Their faces were pale. Their hands were shaking.

The leader shouted. "Attack! Kill him!"

The soldiers charged.

I smiled. A cold, dead smile.

"Come," I said. "Let’s see how strong you are."

I charged.

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[Magic castle = 5 bonus Chapter’s]

[space craft = 15 bonus Chapter’s]

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